Combined carrying and studying case



Feb. 12, 1952 s. M. ABBOTT ,209

COMBINED CARRYING AND STUDYING CASE Filed Nov. 12, 1948 2 Si-ELETSSFEET l Feb. 12, 1952 s, M. ABBOTT 2,585,209

COMBINED CARRYING AND STUDYING CASE Filed Nov. 12, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2' ii if .32 3.5 5' 9 4. J2

jive/22 0f Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES i FATENT OFFICE COMBINED CARRYING AND STUDYING CASE Scott M. Abbott, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 12, 1948, Serial No. 59,535 4 Claims. (01. 45-86) In the careful study or reading of certain books, it is often helpful to do so jointly or in connection with a companion book. As examples, in studying a text book or a Bible, it is helpful to use therewith a dictionary or a glossary and students of such jointly used books often carry them in periods between use.

The present invention relates to a combined carrying and studying case for jointly read books and it consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a neat and attractive appearing case of great strength for holding at least two jointly read or studied books, by which the books may be safely carried in a condition protected against damage and which case, when opened, functions as a support for both books and either of which may be referred to without removing the same from the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case of this kind, which when opened for use, holds the books in an easily readable, inclined position from a supporting surface.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a case of this kind which, when in its. open position, includes parts that may be readily -ma-. nipulated to dispose the desired book in a reading position in the case and at the same time dispose the other of said books in an out-of-reading position in the case, in a manner forming a support for the opened pages of thebook in reading position.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, together with others, as well as the several advantages thereof, will more fully appear as, the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved case in its closed position affording full protection for the books and ready for carrying, in a pendant position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the case, one

scale slightly greater than that of Fig.1, showing the same in its opened condition, upon a suitable supporting surface and with oneof the books in a position to be easily opened for reading.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the case on substantially the scale of Fig. 1, when in the open condition appearing in Fig. 2 and more particularly shows how the carrying handle for the case. supports the same in an inclined position for an .easy reading of either book.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view z through the case as taken on the line 4-4 and on a scale greater thanthat of Fig. 2.

Fig. dis a perspective view of one of the traylikebook supporting members of the case. which will be more fully referred to later.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a certain actuator member employed in the case, whereby the traylike supporting members of the case are moved in alternation from the out-of-reading to the inreading position for either book.

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of a member by which each book is detachably secured to its traylike supporting member.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of a pair of coacting members, by which the tray-like supporting member of Fig. 5 may be moved into different positions in the case. i

Fig. 9 is a detail fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale as taken on the lines 9-9 of Fig. 4 and shows more particularly how a book is detachably secured to its supporting member.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as taken on the line 10-40 and on a scale enlarged over that of Fig. 1 and more particularly shows how the carrying handle and an auxiliary folding. support for a third reference member are operatively attached to the case, in a manner to be more fully referred to later.

In general, the improved case, which is of a generally rectangular shape, when in its closed position includes a pair of shallow open front casing parts that are hingedly connected together at the back. These parts may be swung about their hinged connection from the closed position wherein the open front casing parts are engaged, toan openv position for the case wherein the open fronts of the casing parts are disposed in the same plane. Each casing part is of an area somewhat greater than that of the book to be received therein and each casing part has a depth from its back to its open front substantially corresponding to the thickness of said book.

In each casing part is a tray-like member, to which a book isdetachably secured for support and these members are mounted, for movement from the back toward the open front of the respective casing, in alternation, when the caseis in the open condition of Fig. 2. These members are operated by means carried by the top and bottom ends of each casing and the latter are caused to be moved in alternation by a manual actuator disposed between the two books in the case.

The-casingparts are adapted to have a carrying handle connected to their top ends, and this in such a manner that the case may be carried pendently by said handle when the case is closed and this handle is adapted to be swung into a position providing a leg for supporting the case in an inclined position when it is open. In connection with this handle is a means which is disposed in an out of the way position against the top of the case, when it is closed, into a second position to coact with the top in holding certain notations and the like, when the case is in the open position.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the improved case includes a pair of rectangular casings l and I6 respectively, preferably made of sheet material. Each casing, which is open at the front, is shallow in depth relative to its height and width and includes a back wall I! and pairs of side walls [8 and i9 respectively and top and bottom end walls and 2| respectively. The side walls It! of both casings are formed along the front edges thereof with sleeve sections 22, through which a pin 23 extends, as in Fig. 4, to provide a hinged connection between the casings. By reason of this hinged connection, the casings may be swung from a closed position, such as in Fig. 1, wherein the open fronts of both casings engage each other into an open position such as in Fig. 2. When the casings are in the wide open position, they are disposed side by side with their side walls I8I8 engaged with each other and with their open fronts disposed in the same plane. The margins of, one side wall and both end walls of the casing I5 are provided with outwardly ofiset flanges 24 to receive the margins of the companion side and end walls of the easing l6 when said casings are in the closed position, to assure a good tight closing engagement for the open fronts of the casing. That part of the flange 24 associated with the wall l9 affords a convenient place for any conventional means whereby the casings are held in the closed position in Fig. 1.

In each casing l5 and I6 is book supporting member 25, one of which appears in Fig. 5. This member is in the form of a shallow tray of an outline shape, but of an area somewhat less than the associated casing so as to fit therein with some space between the sides and ends thereof and the sides and ends of the associated case. The members 25 may be made from sheet material and each member includes a bottom 26, upstanding side flanges 2'|2'Ia and hollow end rails 28-28. Each end rail is made to provide inner and outer walls 29 and 30 (see Fig. 9) respectively and a part of the outer wall of each rail is removed between the sides of the member for clearance purpose for other parts in the casing, as will later appear. The outer wall 30 of said rails is provided with opposite sides of the member with elongated openings or slots 3I3I and the inner wall 29 of each rail is provided with an elongated opening 3 la in that side of the member adjacent the flange 2'! as best appears in Fig. 5.

Each member [5 is somewhat greater in area than the book 32 it is to support, which book in this instance, includes the two covers 33-33, a back 34 and the leaves 35. When the book, in a closed condition, is in place upon a supporting member 25, the back is disposed toward the flange 21 and this flange is arranged adjacent the wall 18 of the associated casing. The covers, of course, are thicker and stiffer than the individual leaves of the book and to secure the to the associated supporting member.

' right angled stud 44-45 respectively.

book against displacement from the associated supporting member 25, I provide a retaining member 36, one of which appears in Fig. '7. This member is in the form of a piece of thin fiat spring strip stock having a length approximating the distance between the inner faces of the end rails 28 of a supporting member 25 and centrally at each end of said member 36 is an extension tongue 31 for engagement in the openings 3|a-3la in the walls 29 of the end rails 28--28.

This retaining member is disposed between one of the covers 33 and the stack of leaves 35 of the book, and when its tongues 31 are engaged in said openings 3Ia3la, the book is securely held As this retaining member is made of the stock mentioned, it is easily placed in book retaining position and easily removed, should it be desired to change books.

Each book supporting member 25 is mounted in its associated casing for movement from a position engaged upon the back wall of the associated easing into the plane of the open front thereof and vice versa, in alternation and this while said members are maintained in a plane parallel with the bottom. The mounting means for said members 2525 is as follows:

Pivotally mounted at 38-39 on the end walls 202l of each casing is a pair of arms 40 and ll respectively and a pair of these arms appears inperspective in Fig. 8. The inner ends of the arms of each pair are provided with meshing gear segments 42-43 and the arms extend outwardly from said segments and each terminates in a These studs extend inwardly and away from the associated arm and engage in the elongated openings 3| in the walls 30 of the rails 28 at the ends of the supporting member 25. The previously mentioned cut away portions of the outer walls 30 of the rails 28 afford clearance for the free movement of the arms 404l which are disposed between said bars 28 and the associated end walls 20--2l of the casing. Each arm 40 in each casing includes an extension 46 toward the upper side of the gear segment 42 thereof and pivotally connected to said extension is a link 47, the links at each end of the casing extending toward each other and there operatively connected together, as will soon appear.

48 indicates an actuator member which is disposed between the books supported in the members 2525. This member, which best appears in Figs. 2 and 6, is shown as being of a substantially triangular shape, but could be of other shapes. It is preferably made of thin and relatively stiff sheet metal and is formed along one side 49 with ears 5!! so spaced longitudinally of said side as to fit between certain of the ears 22 and surround the pin 23 so that it has a hinged engagement therewith and about which it may be swung, when the case is in the open condition, out of one easing into the other. The opposite side of this member is formed with an easily graspablefinger 5| for manipulating the actuator. At each end of this actuator member is located an outwardly extending crank arm 52 which is spaced radially from the axis of the pin 23. The inner ends of the links 41 at each end of the case are suitably apertured to receive said arms 52.

In Figs. 2 and 4, one supporting member 25 and its book is shown as disposed entirely within the associated casing 15 and the other supporting member is shown as disposed in substantially the plane of the open sideof the associated casing so that the book therein is disposed-substantially above the open side of the casing. When the member 25 and books thereon are disposed as mentioned, the actuator 1'8 lies flat upon the book in the casing [5. At this time the other book may now be opened by swinging the uppermost cover 33 and desired pages 35 into a position overlying the first mentioned book and the actuator member 8 engaged thereon.

Should it now be necessary to refer to the first mentioned book, the second mentioned book is closed. The finger 5| of the actuator 48 is then grasped and said actuator is swung clockwise through a movement of substantially 180 degrees. In this swinging movement of the actuator, it functions through its crank arms 52 and the pairs of links 47 and pairs ofarms 45- to raise the member 25 and book thereon in the casing I5 and to depress the other member 25 and book thereon in the casing l5 so that the books change their positions and the actuator 68 will then lie flatwise upon the top of the closed book in the casing Hi.

It is thus apparent that the movements of the members 25 and books thereon are in alternation, wherein when one book is moved into a position of use relative to its associated casing, the other book is moved into the out-of-use position in its associated casing and vice versa.

Means such as a handle is provided for carrying the case pendently when it is in the closed condition as in Fig. 1 and this handle is so constructed and arranged relative to both casings that it may be swung into a position forming a leg which supports the case in an inclined open position upon a table or like surface. The construction mentioned is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 10, and is substantially as follows: Rising from the top end of each casing, adjacent the wall I! thereof and forwardly of the walls l8l8 of both casings when they are in the position shown in Fig. 1, are studs 5354. The bottom end of each stud has a swivelling connection with the associated wall so that it may turn about its axis.

Both studs have transverse openings near the top thereof and fixed in the transverse opening in the stud 53 is a tubular shaft 55 and engaged in one end thereof and extending outwardly from the stud is a nipple 56. Telescopically associated with the other end of the shaft 55 is a stem 51 that slides through a bushing 5% that occupies a part of the transverse opening in the stud 54. That end of the stem beyond said stud has a nipple 58 fixed thereto. The inner end of the stem includes a head 59 that slides in the shaft 55 and a spring 6!] surrounds that part of said stem between said head and the inner end of the shaft 55. This spring functions to telescope the stem thereinto. Pivotally mounted on the nipples 5658 are one end of the side arms 6 l-6l which are held against displacement from the nipples by nuts 62. The side arms of the handle are made of fiat strip spring stock and the other end of said arms are connected by a bar which is preferably enclosed in a rubber grip member 63.

When the case is in the closed position shown in Fig. 1, and it is desired to open the same, the casings l5 and [5 are swung about the pin 23 into the open position. In this movement of the casing parts, the studs 53 swing in arcs concentric with the pin 23 and move away from each other and swivel with respect to the associated casing end wall 20. Further, in this movement 6. of the casing 'parts, .theshaft 55 and. stem-=51 jointly function to elongateand at which time the spring 60 is compressed. In this elongation of the shaftand stem the-arms-fil ofthe handle yield outwardly and when the casings approach the open'position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the casing walls [8 'are engaged with eachother, the spring Gland the handle arms 6| function to yieldingly hold the casings in the openposition.

To again close. the case, the casings l5 and 16 are swung toward each otheriandthis movement is .assisted by thev action of the spring 50 and spring sidearms of the handle.

When the .case .is in the open position shown in Fig. 2, the handle may be swung rearwardly and. downwardly until stopped by the engagement of .the side armsof the handle withthateorner of the associated casing as formed bythe junction. of the backs ll of the casing, with thetop end walls 20 thereof. When disposediin this position, with. the rubber covered handle portion .63aand the. lower back corners of the, casings engaged upon a table or. the like, the handle functions as a leg to support the. open case in the inclined position shown in Fig. 3.

If desired, but not necessarily so, I may providein connection with the structure mentioned above, an auxiliary supporting member 6.4 which includes side fianges :55v in which are provided holes for passage of theshaft-EE therethrough. Thus, this member is pivotally mounted .on the shaft for a swinging movement wherein it over-, laps a part of the top vof the closed. case to .an upwardly and rearwardly extending position shown in Fig. 3. In this. latter. position,.said mem ber 55; may be advantageously employed for the support of such reference material as. may. be useful in connection with the books within the case.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the. form, arrangement and construction of.the parts employed therein, :the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense and therefore I do not. wish to be limited thereto except as-may be specifically set, forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. A case of the kind described embodying therein a pair of casings each having an open front, a back and sides and ends, means providing a pivotal connection between said casing and whereby they may be swung from a closed case forming position wherein the open fronts of said casings engage each other, to the open case forming position wherein the open fronts of said casing are disposed substantially in the same plane, a book supporting member in each casing, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on each end of each casing, means between one end of the arms of each pair for causing them to swing in opposite directions, one arm of each pair including an extension, a pair of links operatively connected at one end to the extensions of each pair of arms and overlapping each other at the other end, means for operatively engaging the other end of the arms of each pair with an adjacent end of the book supporting member in the same casing, means between the books on said members and mounted for a swinging movement about an axis parallel with said pivotal connection and having portions at the ends thereof operatively engaged with the overlapped extensions of the pair of links at each end of each casing and operable when said casings are in the opened positions, through said links and associated arms to move said book supporting members in alternation from one position to the other thereof.

2. A case of the kind described embodying therein a pair of casings each having an open front, a back and sides and ends,rmeans providing a pivotal connection between said casing and whereby they may be swung from a closed case forming position wherein the open fronts of said casings engage each other, to the open case forming position wherein the open fronts of said casings are disposed substantially in the same plane, a book supporting member in each casing, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on each end of each casing, means between one end of the arms of each pair for causing them to swing in opposite directions, an arm of each pair including an extension, a pair of links operatively connected at one end to the extensions of each pair of arms and overlapping each other at the other end, means for operatively engaging the other end of the-arms of each pair with an adjacent end of the book supporting member in the same casing, means between the books on said members and mounted for a swinging movement about the axis of said pivotal connection and having laterally offset parts at the ends thereof engaged with the overlapped ends of the links at each end of each casing and operable when said casing is in the open position, through said links and associated arms to move said book supporting members in alternation from one position to the other thereof.

3. A case of the kind described embodying therein a pair of casings each having an open front, a back and sides and ends, means providing a pivotal connection between said casings and whereby they may be swung from a closed case forming position wherein the open fronts of said casings engage each other, to the open case forming position wherein the open fronts of said casings are disposed substantially in the same plane, a book supporting member in each casing, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on each end of each casing and having engaged toothed parts for causing them to swing in opposite directions, one arm of each pair including an extension, a pair of links operatively connected at one end to the extensions of each pair of arms and overlapping each other at the other end, means for operatively engaging the other arm of each pair with the adjacent end of the associated book supporting member in the same casing, means between the books on said members and mounted for a swinging movement about said pivotal connection and having laterally offset parts at the ends operatively engaged with the overlapped extensions of the pairs of arms at each end of each casing and operable when said casings are in the open position, through said links and associated arms to move said book supporting members in alternation from one position to the other thereof.

4. A case of the kind described embodying therein a pair of case parts, each open at the front and having ends, means providing a hinged connection between said case parts for a swinging movement from closed to opened position wherein the open front case parts are in side by side relation, a book supporting member movable between raised and lowered positions in each case part, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on each end of each case part, with the arms of each pair connected together at one end for swinging movement in opposite directions, means operatively connecting the other arms of each pair of arms with an end of the supporting member in the same case part, a pair of links associated with each pair of arms and operatively connecting at one end to at least one of the arms of each pair and connected together at the other end by a pivot, and means operatively connecting the pivots of both pairs of links and swingable about an axis coincident with said pivotal connection between said case parts from one side to the other thereof for moving the book supporting members in said case parts in alternation between said raised and said lowered positions therein.

SCOTT M. ABBOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 727,922 Eylar May 12, 1903 1,552,856 Judge Sept. 8, 1925 1,721J558 Hendrickson July 23, 1929 1,854,721 Swain Apr. 19, 1932 1,976,206 Zellar et al. Oct. 9, 1934 2,041,994 Eagle et a1. May 26, 1936 2,418,670 Schubert Apr. 8, 1947 

